Rail-joint.



R. T. FREDERICK & J. L. CHAPMAN. RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20.1909.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

WITNESSES [NVE/VTORS n Frederick UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN T; FREDERICK AND JOSEPH L. CHAPMAN, OF RANDOLPfL NE BRASKA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Application filed April 20, 1909. Serial N0. 491,049.

To all whom it may concern:.

Be it known that we,'RnUBnN T. FRED vwhich it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in rail joints and our object is to provide means for locking the ends of the rails together without employing the usual form of fish plate and bolts and a further object is to so arrange theinterlocking parts that the rails can be readily separated or attached together when it is neces Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred. to and more particularly pointed out in the-claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming parts of this application, Figure 1 is a'plan view of the meeting ends of two rails showmg the same positioned on the ties; Flg. 2

is a side elevation thereof. vFig. 3 is a side elevation showing the parts of thereceiving cndof the ra l broken away, and, Flg. 4 1s a sectional view as seen on line 44, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1' and 2 indicate the rails employed inproducing our invention, the end of the rail 1, as shown being provided in its base and web with an inverted socket which is T-shaped in cross section, the web a and :base 5 of the rail 1 being increased-in width to compensate for the socket 3. The end of the rail 2, as shown, is provided with a tongue 6, which is adapted to fit the socket, which tongue is formed by removing a portion of the head of the rail.

and leaving the base and web their full strength, said tongue being also T-shaped in cross section. The socket?) is open at the bottom and atone end so that-when it is desired to introduce or remove a rail, the socket end ofrthe rail 1 may be raised out of engagement with thetongue 6 and the end of the rail .2 therein'removed from below the socket and-by 1properly positioning the end of the new rai and again lowering the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A 17, 1909 socket end of the rail 1 said rails will again the base of the rail 1 at its enlarged portion and also the "corresponding portion of the rail 2 at the end distant from the rail section 1 being referably provided with notches 8 into'whi'ch the spikes are intro-.

duced. In this manner of interlocking the rails, the meeting endsthereof are strengthened instead of weakened, the increased web and base of the end of the rail 1 compensating for ;the.removal of the head of the rail 2 to form the tongue, thereby leaving the base and web portion forming the tongue of the same strength asv the rema nder ot the rail, to which it-is attached andby providing the notches as shown, the ends of the rails will beheld against longitudinal movement,which would affect the joint between the two rails by contraction or expansion. It will further be seen that when it. is de-, sired to remove one of the rails, it is only necessary to remove the spikes in order to accomplish this result, thereby greatly lessening the-work of the sectioinmen in kee'ping the track-way in repair. It will likewise be understood thateach rail is providedat one end with the socket member and at its opposite end with the tongueandby properly forming the length of the tongue, it will extend into engagement with two of the ties, thus increasing the strength of the joint. It will likewise be seen that by curving the free end of the tongue as shown, said tongue can be more readily introduced below the socket, as it will not be necessary to raise the end of the rail so high.

What we claim is:

1. The combination with a rail-section having a T-shaped socket, with its head portion opening downwardly, a second railsection having a tongue at one end of corresponding outline in cross section,.the upper edge of said socket being beveled downwardly toward its free end, and means for the retention of said rail sections against casual movement.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a rail-section having a T-shaped socket with its head portion opening downwardly, a second rail-section having atongue In testimony whereof we have signed our 16 at one end of corresponding outline in cross names to 'this specifipation in the presence of section, the upper edge of said socket being two subscribing witnesses. beveled downwardly and longitudinally U -T FREDERICK 5 towardthe free end of said tongue, said JOSEPH CHAPMAN tongue being received by said socket, said a rail-sections each being flared laterally at- Witnesses: one end, and means for the retention of said E. R. WILLIAMS, rail-sections'against casual movement; I D. P. MONFORT. 

